Basketball Hall of Famer Don Nelson, who won five NBA titles as a player and was a three-time Coach of the Year, has died at 86, his family said.

Nelson ranks second in NBA history with 1335 regular-season coaching wins, behind Gregg Popovich, after a 31-year coaching career with the Milwaukee Bucks, Golden State Warriors, New York Knicks and Dallas Mavericks.

He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2012.

“On Sunday morning our beloved husband, dad, grandfather and great-grandfather Don Nelson peacefully went to be with the Lord, surrounded by his loving family,” his family said in a statement on Sunday.

“Throughout his last week, friends and family encircled him with love, sharing the blessing of his friendship and revisiting treasured memories.”

As a player, Nelson won five championships with the Boston Celtics during an 11-year stint with the team, and his No.19 jersey was retired by the franchise in 1978. He played 14 seasons in the NBA.

“Don Nelson revolutionised NBA basketball through his fearlessness, ingenuity and deep conviction,” NBA commissioner Adam Silver said.

“He brought an unmistakable personality to everything he did, and his impact on our sport will continue to be felt for generations.

“I send my deepest condolences to Don’s family and many friends throughout our league.”

Nelson never won an NBA title as a coach but twice led the Warriors to the playoffs and guided them to a memorable first-round upset of top-seeded Dallas in 2007.

He also coached the Bucks to seven consecutive Central Division titles, and helped build the Mavericks into contenders during his eight seasons in Dallas.

“Nellie... you didn’t just draft me. You believed in me,” Mavs great Dirk Nowitzki said.

“You saw things in my game before I ever realised I could do them. I’ve said it a million times and I will always say it: I don’t think my career could have turned out how it did without you being my first coach and giving me the freedom to play my game.

“I can only say THANK YOU. For everything. RIP legend.”

Michael Redd said: “Nellie almost brought me to Dallas in 2002 when I was a restricted free agent. We’d nod and check in with each other here and there over the years after that. It was always love.

“As far as hoops, he saw stuff on a basketball court that the rest of us wouldn’t catch onto for another twenty years. All that small ball and spacing the whole league runs today, he was ahead of his time.

“Prayers to his family.”

Nelson retired from coaching in 2010 after a second stint with Golden State.

In June 2025, Nelson received the Chuck Daly Lifetime Achievement Award from the National Basketball Coaches Association in recognition of his contributions to the game.

“’Nellie’ was one of the most innovative and influential coaches in NBA history and an iconic figure in Warriors history,” Golden State said in a statement.

“He was a true basketball visionary who saw the game differently and was never afraid to challenge conventional thinking.

“His approach helped shape the game and paved the way for generations of players and coaches who followed.”